Hi friends, family and community memebers,
I’m preparing to open my home to a foster child — a step I’ve felt called toward for a long time. While I know this journey will come with challenges, it’s one I’m entering with intention, care, and a deep commitment to creating a safe and nurturing space for a child during a time of transition.
Foster care is not meant to be done alone. While I am fully committed to this responsibility, I also recognize that children thrive best when they are surrounded by a supportive community. Asking for help doesn’t come easily to me, but inviting others into this journey allows each child who enters my home to feel something bigger — that they are cared for, valued, and supported by more than just one person.
Your support, in any form, helps me show a child that there is a network of people rooting for them — people who believe they deserve comfort, dignity, and stability. That means more to me than I can put into words.
Becoming a foster parent involves both emotional and practical preparation. I’m currently meeting licensing and safety requirements while also setting aside resources so I can respond quickly and thoughtfully to each child’s needs.
All funds raised will be placed into a separate, dedicated bank account that will be used exclusively for foster care–related needs. This allows me to responsibly pull from these funds as needs arise — including essential items, child care or respite support, and unexpected placement-related expenses. Each foster placement I receive will be supported using these same funds, ensuring continuity and preparedness for every child who enters my home.
In addition to financial support, I’ve created an Amazon wish list for those who feel more comfortable donating tangible items. This list includes immediate and practical needs that help make a child feel safe and at home right away. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JYARWFRCP95F?ref_=wl_share
Funds and donated items will support:
- ️ Bedroom setup: bedding, rails, organizational supplies, lighting, and comforting décor
- Safety & transportation: car seat, baby gates, medical supplies, outlet covers, cabinet locks, door locks and alarms, and required safety items
- Clothing & daily essentials: clothes, shoes, hygiene and personal care items
- Comfort & regulation supports: books, toys, sensory items, and art supplies
- Initial groceries, child care, and emergency needs: preparing for short-notice placements
If you choose to donate, I also invite you to leave a message of encouragement for the child. If you’re comfortable, please consider not making your donation anonymous, so children placed in my home can see that they are supported and cared for by a larger community.
Whether you’re able to donate, purchase an item from the wish list, share this fundraiser, or leave a kind message, your support helps create a home rooted in safety, dignity, and compassion — and reminds a child that they are not alone.
Thank you for standing with me in this journey and for helping build a community of care around the children who enter my home.
With gratitude,
Elise
Organizer
